In a major escalation, Israel assassinated the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, in airstrikes targeting southern Beirut yesterday. Israeli officials confirmed today, Saturday, via the “Axios” news outlet, that Abbas Nilforushan, the Iranian Quds Force Commander in Lebanon, was also killed in the attack on Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Iranian media later confirmed the death of Nilforushan.
This news follows the Israeli military’s official announcement earlier today that Nasrallah was killed in the airstrikes on Friday, which targeted Hezbollah’s command center in southern Beirut.
The Israeli army spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, stated in a press release that the strike on the southern suburb led to Nasrallah’s death.
In addition to Nasrallah, the commander of Hezbollah’s southern front, Ali Karaki, along with several other senior leaders, were killed in the same attack.
After a prolonged period of silence, Hezbollah issued a formal statement confirming Nasrallah’s death. Nasrallah had led the group for 32 years.
Hezbollah’s leadership vowed to continue their fight against Israel, declaring that they will stand in solidarity with Gaza and Palestine and defend Lebanon and its people.
Israeli sources previously reported that Nasrallah was killed during a meeting in Hezbollah’s “security zone” alongside other high-ranking officials and Iranian Revolutionary Guard officers.
Israeli jets dropped over 10 heavy bombs on Hezbollah’s headquarters in the Harat Hreik area, known as the fortified security zone. The strikes resulted in unprecedented destruction in the area.
